A Texas judge struck down the ACA is unconstitutional Dec. 14, prompting responses from various advocacy groups and states, Medscape reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. A Texas court based its ruling on the pending Jan. 1, 2019 repeal of the individual mandate. The court ruled the mandate was essential to the ACA, and without it the ACA would be unconstitutional.
2. The ruling prompted a flurry of responses with several states and national advocacy groups working to have the decision appealed in a higher court.
3. The American Medical Association led a coalition of advocacy group that filed a brief in support of the law. AMA President Barbara McAneny, MD, told Medscape the coalition would work with patient advocates to pursue an appeal.
4. Although the Texas court said the ACA was unconstitutional, it did not grant a request to immediately repeal the law. Nothing will change until the individual mandate ends Jan. 1, 2019.
5. When the mandate expires, Lexington, Va.-based Washington and Lee University School of Law Professor Emeritus Timothy Jost said to Medscape it's unclear what'll happen then. "I kind of think we're in uncharted territory here," he said.
6. A 16 state coalition, formed when the Trump administration first announced its intent to not defend the ACA, vowed to appeal the decision. House Speaker-Designate Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the U.S. House will intervene in the appeal process to restore the ACA's constitutionality when the Democrats take office.
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